High school teacher Paul Todd said he saw the makings of a Marine almost as soon as he met Jordan D. Winkler.
"He led quite well, and people followed him," Todd said. "He thought well on his feet and was a good organizer."
Winkler, 19, of Tulsa, Okla., died Nov. 26 died while stationed at a hospital in Fallujah. He was based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Winkler, a student in Todd's 20th-century wars class, felt comfortable opening up and visited with him several times after Winkler graduated in 2003 to follow in his footsteps in the 1st Marine Division.
Mindy McCreary knew him from his time on the wrestling team, where he won the most improved award for 2003. She said Winkler was never brash or arrogant. "He was quiet and really sweet," McCreary said. "He was very respectful."
Todd said he was struck by Winkler's motivation for joining the Marines. He wasn't concerned about the compensation, the military hardware or even his day-to-day duties.
"He was more intrigued about the humanistic side," Todd said. "He said he was going over there to help people out."
He is survived by his parents, Steven and Lenora.